Keep Wild is a brand started by Kimi Werner and Akemi Ueda Jensen. Their ethos - you know what forget summarizing the brand in my own words, I’m using theirs:

“We live in a fast-paced world where most of us are always on-the-go. We want to create products that are multi-use. Products that are designed with quality, function and style in mind. Products that wear beautifully and live to tell stories.” 

I’ve loved shooting with them over the years and seeing Keep Wild’s progression. This won’t be the last time you’ll read about a Keep Wild shoot from me (unless you stop reading ‘Who’s Got the Funk’ - bad decision). 

More to the point, the first shoot. We had a packed morning planned, hike, find lovely backdrops after the hike, and a farmers market of sorts. Kimi, her assistant Sarah Wilcox (Sarah’s awesome), and I took to a trail. The weather was ideal for shooting, morning light blue-bird sparkly day. As we neared the top we started shooting. On the summit with us were five guys posing for photos. I can’t remember how this came about but I saw the guys and said to Kimi, “they get to have their tits out no problem. Why can’t we? Tits out!” Next thing I know, Kimi’s posed topless on a rock surrounded by a dreamy Hawaiian morning. 

Shoot in the bag, we went down the mountain. While I enjoy hiking,  “nimble-footed” isn’t included in my, “Use Ten Words to Describe Yourself” response. I slipped and fell like a limp rag doll, roll, roll, roll. Laughing at me from below, Kimi gave me a descriptive analysis of my relaxed tumble. Gear intact, thanks to my camera bag, we were on to the farmers market with almost no scratches.  

The rest of the day was spent actually seeing places I’ve passed a hundred times because we stopped and I took the time to compose photos. We shot for Keep Wild and other brands that sponsor Kimi. By the end, I was in the happy-tired state I get into after shoots. I couldn’t wait to work with Keep Wild again. 

Wild Funk you make my heart sing!

Dear Reader, that catchy closing line is under construction as it’s too groovy and too much of a groovy thing is a bad thing or it may endure the test of time, stay tuned, dun dun dun!